Waste disposer apparatus

ABSTRACT

A waste disposer apparatus suspended beneath a sink. Support structure mounted beneath the sink and a mounting ring carrying a waste grinding unit are disengagably hinged at one point of their peripheries so that the grinding unit may be hung from the sink at the initial stage of assembly in a first relatively loose position while plumbing connections are completed. The unit is then swung into position about the hinge and pried into final position. An independent securing means, which also may form a prying tool, is provided for engaging locking means on the support structure and the mounting ring in order to hold the support structure and mounting ring in assembled relationship.

United States Patent [191 Gutli et a1. 2

WASTE DISPOSER APPARATUS Inventors: Lauren W. Guth; Mahlon '1. Roy, both of Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

Filed: Nov. 9, 1972 Appl. No.: 305,090

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,246,132 4/1966 Jordan et a1... 285/158 3,510,070 5/1970 Stratman 241/1005 X FQREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 858,359 1/1961 Great Britain 241/1005 -[111 3,843,066 51 Oct.22, 1974 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Francis 1-1. Boos [5 7 ABSTRACT A waste disposer apparatus suspended beneath a sink. Support structure mounted beneath the sink and a mounting ring carrying a waste grinding unit are disengagably hinged at one point of their peripheries so that the grinding unit may be hung from the sink at the initial stage of assembly in a first relatively loose position while plumbing connections are completed. The unit is then swung into position about the hinge and pried into final position. An independent securing means, which also may form a prying tool, is provided for engaging locking means on the support structure and the mounting ring in order to hold the support structure and mounting ring in assembled relationship.

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FIGS

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WASTE DISPOSER APPARATUS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to waste disposer apparatus and more particularly to an improved arrangement for mounting such apparatus beneath a sink.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art discloses various arrangements for mounting a waste disposer apparatus beneath a sink. Among these prior art arrangements are those including support structure secured to the sink, a mounting ring supporting a waste grinding unit, means for hinging the ring to the support structure, and securing means for holding the mounting ring and support structure in assembled relationship;

These prior art arrangements that include hinging the ring to the support structure have utilized securing means integral with either the mounting ring or the support structure. In addition, a separate prying tool has been necessary in order to force the mounting ring and support structure together to bring them into their final assembled position.

The present invention replaces the integral securing means of the prior art with a securing means independent of either the support structure or mounting ring. In addition, the independent securing means can be utilized as a prying tool in order to facilitate assembly of the waste disposer apparatus. The use of the independent securing means eases disassembly of the waste disposer apparatus as well as its assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general objective of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for suspending a waste disposer beneath the drain opening of a sink.

It is another objective of the invention to provide means for securing a mounting ring and annular support structure together in which the securing means is independent of either the support structure or mounting ring.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide apparatus in which the disposer is suspended in a relatively loose first position to enable rotation thereof for completing plumbing connections and including securing means used as a prying tool to bring the mounting ring and annular support structure into their final assembled position.

It is yet another objective of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for compressing a gasket in sealing engagement between a rigid support structure and a rigid mounting ring as they are pried into assembled relation.

In one embodiment of the invention, an apertured tab extends outwardly from the mounting ring in a generally radial direction. The independent securing means is disposed in the aperture and takes the form of an elongated finger. After the annular support structure and mounting ring are hinged together, the waste grinding unit is held in afirst relatively loose suspended position. After plumbing and electrical connections are completed, the unit is swung to a final position wherein a gasket on the mounting ring engages the support structure. At this point of the assembly, the finger is employed as a lever to bring the mounting ring into its final assembled position. When the mounting ring is in this position, the finger is inserted into a slot provided for it in the support structure. As a result of its engagement with the slot in the support structure and the aperture in the tab, the finger secures the support structure and mounting ring assembly in its final position. Disassembly of the support structure and mounting ring are easily accomplished by merely reversing the assembly procedure. v

In the second embodiment, the independent securing means is formed from a rod having an offset portion, this rod being used as a camming member to bring the support structure and mounting ring into their final assembled position.

In a third embodiment, a separate prying tool is used to bring the assembly into its final position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of this invention may be had by reference to the accompanying specification when taken with the drawings of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a. first embodiment of the invention showing an annular support structure, secured to the drain opening of a sink, and a mounting ring in their final assembled relation.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a support ring incorporating a locking means according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a mounting ring incorporating a locking means and an independent securing means according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the assembled position of the locking means and independent securing means according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the annular support structure and mounting ring according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing the assembled 7 position of the locking means and independent securing means according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the annular support structure and mounting ring according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view showing the assembled position of the locking means and independent securing means according to the third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a sink 2 having a drain opening therein. Annular support structure 4 comprises a cylindrical member 6 substantially in line with the drain opening and having at its upper end an outturned flange 8 and at its lower end an inturned flange 10, with a circumferentially extending indentation 12 at an intermediate point between its upper and lower ends. The support structure further comprises an annular support ring 14 having an offset fiange 16 which cooperates with a wire 18 disposed in the indentation 12. An annulus 20 and bolts 22 are provided as part of the support structure and secure the support structure to the sink 2. The bolts 22 cooperate with threaded bosses 26 on the support ring 14 and with annulus 20. The annulus 20 provides a bearing surface for the upper end of the bolts 22 so that as the bolts 22 are threaded into the bosses 26, the annulus 20 approaches outturned flange 8 and secures the sink 2 between the annulus 20 and outturned flange 8. The reaction force of the bolts 22 is taken by the wire 18 which cooperates with both offset flange 16 and indentation 12. It is'apparent that any number of bolts 22 may be used and that the preferred arrangement for them is equal spacing around the support ring 14. Packing 28 may also be provided to insure a water-tight joint between the sink 2 and support structure 4.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the support ring which forms a part of this invention will be described in detail. An

I portion on the periphery of the mounting ring a hook 42 forms a second hinge member. The hook 42 comprises a radially outwardly extending portion 44, an upright portion 46, and a radially inwardly extending portion ,48 and a downwardly extending portion 50. At a location substantially diametrically opposed to the hook 42 a second locking means comprising a tab 52, integral with the mounting ring 40, is provided. The tab 52 comprises a radially outwardly projecting portion 54 and a vertical portion 56 having an aperture 58 therein. The angular location of the tab 52 with respect to the hook 42 corresponds to the angular location of the slot 36 relative to aperture 30 in the support ring 14.

Also referring to FIG. 3, a finger 60 which forms the independent securing means is shown. The finger 60 comprises a straight portion 62, a head 64 and a bent portion 66. The head 64 cooperates with the aperture 58 in a manner which prevents the finger 40 from accidentally falling out of the aperture, and the bent portion 66 is used as a handle. It is clear, however, that the head 64 and bent portion 66 may be omitted, thus making the finger only a flat, straight member, without departing from the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an elastomeric supporting sleeve 68 is provided, the bottom of which is adapted to be connected to a waste grinding unit. Since the waste grinding unit forms no part of the present invention, it has not been shown. At the top of the elastomeric sleeve 68, a bead 70 is provided which extends around the periphery of the sleeve. The bead 70 cooperates with the mounting ring 40 to loosely mount the sleeve 68 to the mounting ring 40. The bead 70 and radiallyinward projecting seal beads or rings 70a of the sleeve 68 are compressed between the support structure 4 and mounting ring 40 when the apparatus is fully assembled. To effect the best possible seal, the support structure 4 and mounting ring 40 are made so as to compress the seal rings 70a against the outside surface of member 6 to effect a water-tight seal.

The assembly of the disclosed apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention will now .be described, having reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. The first step in the assembly is to insert the downwardly extending portion 50 of hook 42 into aperture 30, thus effecting engagement of the first and second hinge members. After engaging the first and second hinge members, it is apparent that the mounting ring 40, supporting sleeve 68 and the waste grinding unit, now hang from the support structure 4 by the hinge thus formed. This obviates the need for the installer to hold the unit in place while it is being secured and permits the unit to be axially rotated such that the sleeve 68 moves relative to the mounting ring 40. This permits alignment of a drain tube (not shown) connection to the unit. Thereafter, the unit is moved whereby the ring 40 is rotated about the hinge horizontal axis until the beads a contact support structure 4. At this point, the head 64 of the finger 60 is placed on top of the flange 34 of the support ring 14 and an upward force is applied to the handle 66 of the finger 60 to pry the mounting ring 40 upwardly. When the mounting ring 40 is in its final asse'mbled position, the head 64 of the finger 60 is' slid under the raised edge 38 of the slot 36. This secures the mounting ring 40 in its final assembled position with respect to the support structure and compresses beads 70a between the support structure 4 and the mounting ring 40 to seal them in watertight relation.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment is substantially indentical to the first embodiment except for the configuration of the locking means and the securing means. In this embodiment, the first locking means comprises an, aperture 72 in flange 34 of support ring 14 and a raised portion 74 adjacent to aperture 72. The second locking means comprises a'hook 76 on the mounting ring 40' which in the assembled position extends through the aperture 72. The independent securing means comprises a rod 78 having an offset portion 80 and a means 82 for turning the rod about its axis. In the drawings, the turning means 82 is indicated as a bent portion of the rod, but it is clear that any structure enabling the application of torque about the rod axis will serve for the purposes of this embodiment.

The assembly of this embodiment proceeds as in the first embodiment until beads 70a engage the member 6. At this point, the hook 76 extends partially through the aperture 72 by an amount sufficient to enable insertion of the rod 78 under the hook 76 with the offset portion 80 turned away from the surface of the flange 34 of the support ring 14'. In this position the unit, with the sleeve 68, can be rotated in mounting ring 40 to align the drain connector of the unit to the household plumbing. Then the rod 78 is inserted until end 84 rides up on raised portion 74 on the flange 34' while the offset portion 80 on the other end is clear of the hook 76. After achieving this position, the rod 78 is rotated using the turning means 82 so that the offset portion 80 is turned downwardly toward the surface of the flange 34 of the support ring 14'. As this rotation is accomplished, the offset portion cams the rod away from the surface of the flange 34, forcing hook 76, and therefore mounting ring 40', upwardly toward the support structure 4. The beads 70a are thus compressed between the support structure 4' and the mounting ring .40 and seals them in water-tight relation as in the first vertical portion 92 is located on the support ring opposite the first hinge member and forms the second locking means. A securing means, comprising a generally U-shaped member 94, is attached to the horizontal por tion 96 of tab 88. The member 94 includes two legs 98 and a bight portion 100 connecting the legs. The bight portion 100 is rotatably mounted to the tab 88 by a small portion of the tab bent out and over the bight portion 100. At the ends of the legs 98, hooks 104, to be received by apertures 86, are provided which extend in a plane normal to that formed by legs 98 and bight portion 100. It is of course 'clear that a single aperture, large enough to receive hooks 104, may be substituted for apertures 86, without departing from the invention. It is also obvious that one skilled in the art might form member 94 to include only one hook engaging a single aperture in the flange 34".

The assembly procedure is identical to that of the first two embodiments until beads 70a engage the support structure 4". After manual rotation of the unit for aligning the drain connection, the prying is accomplished by inserting a readily available, conventional tool, such as a screwdriver (not shown), through the opening 90 and engaging flange 34". The mounting ring is priedupwardly, using the tool as a lever, until the hooks 104 on the U-shaped member 94 are located above the surface of the support ring 14". When this position of the mounting ring 40" is reached, the U- shaped member 94 is rotated until the hooks 104 are positioned over the apertures 86. The prying tool is then removed and the hooks 104 enter apertures 86 to hold the mounting ring 40 and support structure 4" in their final assembled position, with head 70 compressed therebetween.

Although several specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above, those skilled in the art will perceive modifications Without departing from the invention, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. In a waste disposer apparatus of the type normally suspended beneath the drain opening of a sink:

a. an annular support structure adapted to be securely fixed to the sink substantially in line with the drain opening, said annular support structure comprising:

i. a first hinge member; and ii. a first locking means having a slot located therein; I

b. a mounting ring arranged for cooperation with said annular support structure, said mounting ring comprising:

i. a second hinge member engaging said first hinge member; and

ii. a second locking means comprising a tab integral with said mounting ring, said tab having an aperture therein and cooperating with said first locking means; and

0. independent securing means including a finger ex tending through said aperture of said tab thereby forming a prying member for forcing said annular support structure and said mounting ring into assembled relationship and thereafter cooperating with said slot of said first locking means for holding said annular support structure and said mounting 30 ring in assembled relationship.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said finger includes:

a. a first end received in said slot, said first end including a head for minimizing the possibility of accidental disengagement of said finger and said tab;

and b. a second end including a bent portion forming a handle to facilitate prying.

=i at 

1. In a waste disposer apparatus of the type normally suspended beneath the drain opening of a sink: a. an annular support structure adapted to be securely fixed to the sink substantially in line with the drain opening, said annular support structure comprising: i. a first hinge member; and ii. a first locking means having a slot located therein; b. a mounting ring arranged for cooperation with said annular support structure, said mounting ring comprising: i. a second hinge member engaging said first hinge member; and ii. a second locking means comprising a tab integral with said mounting ring, said tab having an aperture therein and cooperating with said first locking means; and c. independent securing means including a finger extending through said aperture of said tab thereby forming a prying member for forcing said annular support structure and said mounting ring into assembled relationship and thereafter cooperating with said slot of said first locking means for holding said annular support structure and said mounting ring in assembled relationship.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said finger includes: a. a first end received in said slot, said first end including a head for minimizing the possibility of accidental disengagement of said finger and said tab; and b. a second end including a bent portion forming a handle to facilitate prying. 